Characteristics of circulating T cell receptor gamma-delta T cells from individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV): an association between V(delta)2 subtype and chronic HBV infection.
BACKGROUND
To date, few studies have been conducted to determine whether T cell receptor (TCR) gammadelta T cells are involved in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study was performed to assess the quantity and immune function of TCRgammadelta T cells in the blood of patients with chronic HBV infection and to analyze the relationship between proportions of TCRgammadelta T cells and both proportions of other immune cells and clinical parameters.


METHODS
Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportions of TCRgammadelta T cells and other immune cells in the peripheral blood of 46 asymptomatic carriers (AsCs) of HBV, 95 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 29 healthy donors (HDs). The immune functions of TCRgammadelta T cells from 5 AsCs, 6 patients with CHB, and 5 HDs were assessed by cytokine secretion and cytotoxity assays.


RESULTS
The difference in the proportion of the V(delta)2 T cell subtype between HDs and patients was significant. For the patients, the proportion of V(delta)2 T cells was negatively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels. The differences in interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion and cytotoxicity between patients and HDs were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of circulating V(delta)2 T cells was significantly decreased in patients with chronic HBV infection, and this was accompanied by a strong immune response in the liver. IFN-gamma secretion and TCRgammadelta T cell cytotoxicity was lower in patients than in HDs.
Chen
Min
M
Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, People's Republic of China Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, No. 74 Lin Jiang Road, Chongqing, China.
Zhang
Dazhi
D
Zhen
Weiqun
W
Shi
Qingfeng
Q
Liu
Yi
Y
Ling
Ning
N
Peng
Mingli
M
Tang
Kaifu
K
Hu
Peng
P
Hu
Huaidong
H
Ren
Hong
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human